Apparatus for the treatment of paper



y 1954 s. J. GREEN ETAL 3,133,379

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAPER Filed Aug. 10. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheetl FIGQI y 19, 1964 s. J. GREEN ETAL 3,133,379

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAPER Filed Aug. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Xffaewfrs y 1964 s. J. GREEQN ETAL 3,133,379

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAPER Filed Aug. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet3 FIGS May 19, 1964 Filed Aug. 10, 1961 S. J. GREEN ETAL APPARATUS FORTHE TREATMENT OF PAPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

y 1964 s. .1. GREEN ETAL APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PAPER 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 10, 1961 United States Patent 3,133,379APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT (IF PAPER Sydney James Green and DavidSydney Goodfellow,

Southampton, England, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Brown andWilliamson Tobacco Corporation, Louisville, Ky, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Aug. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 130,658 9 Claims. (Cl. 51-8) of amask. The apparatus of this invention may be employed to roughen thesurface of the paper, to perforate it or to efiect a reduction in itsthickness. In the case of cigarette paper, such perforation or reductionof thickness allows air to be drawn through the treated portion of paperwhen a cigarette having a wrapper made thereof is being smoked, therebydiluting and cooling the smoke and also provides means for markingpatterns, symbols, letters or trademarks on cigarettes. The apparatus ofthis invention may also be used for applying patterns of perforations orof thinned portionsto other paper articles, such as postage stamps andbanknotes, for example.

When the apparatus is used to perforate cigarette paper,

duced over bands of specified width arranged to occur at any desiredposition on the cigarettes. The holes produced by this apparatus may beround or of any other shape and of any desired size. Similarly, theholes or perforations may be arranged in a pattern to form letters ornumerals or a symbol or picture or trademark.

When the apparatus is used to toughen or to effect a reduction in thethickness of cigarette paper, the roughening or thinning of thecigarette paper web may be effected along its whole length or over bandsof specified width arranged to occur at any desired position in thecigarette. The portion of roughened or thinned paper may be arranged ina pattern to form letters or numerals,

a symbol, picture or trademark. Taking a specific case,

parallel bands could be made longitudinally along the cigarette paper,or across the cigarette to give a ringed effect.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises means for projectinga stream of particles of an abrasive material and means for moving apaper web across the path of the stream of abrasive particles.

Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an apparatus for treatingcigarette paper,

FIGURE 2 an elevation, partly in section, of an alternative apparatusfor this purpose,

FIGURE 3 an enlarged cross-section of part of the apparatus of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a third form ofapparatus for the same purpose,

FIGURE 5 a perspective view of a rotary distributor for abrasive, and

FIGURE 6 shows specimens of various patterns which ing machine (notshown).

Ice.

may be. produced on cigarette paper by the apparatus shown in thepreceding figures.

L1 the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, a web 1 of cigarette paper is ledthrough a passageway provided in the top of a vessel 2 containingparticles of an abrasive substance. The vessel 2 has a central mixingtube 3 with a nozzle 4 at its upper end, and an air supply tube 5 isdisposed axially within the mixing tube 3. Abrasive can enter the mixingtube 3 through an aperture 6, under the suction eifect produced by airflow through the air supply tube 5. A mask in the form of a thinflexible metal band 7, preferably of steel, runs between the paper web 1and the nozzle 4 and over pulleys 8, 9, 10, 11. The pulley 8 is driventhrough a belt 12.

Along the metal band 7, at intervals of one cigarette length, is punchedor etched the pattern it is desired to reproduce on the cigarette paper,whether it be a perforated pattern or a pattern to reduce the thicknessof the cigarette paper or roughen it over a prescribed area. The metalband 7 travels at the same speed as the cigarette paper web 1, whichpasses straight to the cigarette making machine, in fact both the band 7and web 1 may be driven by the cigarette making machine. Air suppliedthrough the tube 5 entrains particles of abrasive and ejects themthrough the nozzle 4 against the band 7 and paper Web 1. At the point orarea of treatment, the side of the paper Web 1 opposite to the band 7runs against a plate 13 of hardened steel or other hard material. Thejet of abrasive material plays continuously on the metal band 7 whichforms a mask or stencil allowing the jet of abrasive to perforate,roughen or thin by abrasion only the area required. The system iscontinuous as the abrasive after striking the band 7 drops down into thevessel 2 to be used again as required.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show an alternative form of apparatus. In thisembodiment, the cigarette paper web 1 is led from a bobbin 14 into achamber 15, round a roller 16 and out of the chamber 15 to the cigarettemak- Where the paper web 1 enters and leaves the chamber 15, seals 17,18 are provided. The roller 16 is of rubber with steel side plates 19and a thin flexible steel rim 20 which acts as a backing plate (FIGURE3). The abrasive is stored in a funnel 21 below the roller 16v and issucked up through a pipe 22 to a mixing chamber 23 by a current of airsupplied through a pipe 24 and passing through the mixing chamber 23 toa nozzle 25. Theabrasive is ejected by the blast of air from the nozzle25 against the inside of the rim 26 of a wheel 27. The rim 26 carriesinserts, such as that shown at 28, in the form of masks or stencils,spaced at intervals, to allow the abrasive'to act on the paper web 1 atthe required positions. The wheel 27 is preferably driven from thecigarette making machine. The operation is continuous, as the abrasiveafter ejection from the nozzle 25 falls back into the funnel 21. A dustextractor may be provided as shown schematically at 29. More than onenozzle 25 may be used. The rubber core of the roller 16 may be made intube form and inflated. Means (not shown) may be provided for cleaningthe paper after treatment.

FIGURE 4 shows a further alternative form of apparatus. The bobbin 14,roller 16 and Wheel 27 with inserts 28, in the form of masks orstencils, in its rim 26, are all as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, and theroller 16 and wheel 27 are enclosed within a chamber 36, the paper web 1passing in and out of the chamber 349 through seals (not shown) similarto those shown at 18 and 1? in FIGURE 2. In this apparatus, the chamberhas two conical partitions 31, 32, one below the other, each with anormally open diaphragm or conical valve 33, 34 at its lowest point. Thebottom 35 of the chamber 30 is also conical and at its lowest pointcommunicates through a valve 36 with a mixing chamber 37 in a compressedair supply pipe 38. The partitions 31, 32 in effect define twocompartments 39, 40 below the main part of the chamber 30.

The compressed air supply can be connected to either of the compartments39, 40 and to the mixing chamber 37 by means of valves 41, 42, 43. Fromthe mixing chamber 37, a pipe 44 leads the mixture of air and abrasiveto a nozzle 45 disposed similarly to the nozzle 25 of FIGURES 2 and 3. Amoisture trap 38a may be provided in the compressed air supply line.

In operation, the valves 36, 41, 42, 43 are first closed and abrasive isplaced in chamber 30. As the valves 33, 34 are open, this abrasive fallsdown into compartment 40. Valve 42 is then opened, so that compartment40 is pressurized and valve 34 is thereby closed. On opening valves 36and 43, abrasive under pressure is mixed with the compressed air in themixing chamber 37, is forced through pipe 44 to nozzle 45 and ejectedtherefrom against the inside of rim 26 and, through inserts 28, againstthe paper web 1. This abrasive then falls down through the open valve 33into compartment 39. When the level of abrasive in compartment 40becomes low, valve 41 is opened and valve 42 closed for a short period.The pressure in compartment 39 causes valve 33 to close and valve 34 toopen, allowing the abrasive which has collected in compartment 39 tofall into compartment 40, without interrupting the operation. Valve 42is again opened and valve 41 closed, and operation continues.

This apparatus has the advantage that the abrasive is under pressurebefore being introduced into the air stream, which has the effect ofincreasing the velocity of the abrasive particles, resulting in a higherefficiency jet.

The valves 36 and 43 may be controlled from the cigarette making machineto which the paper web 1 is led.

The valves 41 and 42 may be controlled automatically 4 by cams or by atimer motor.

Instead of using a blast of air to carry the stream of abrasiveparticles, use may be made of a rotating distributor employingcentrifugal force and/ or vanes to project the abrasive stream. FIGUREshows such a rotating distributor, in which abrasive is supplied througha pipe 46 to a hollow hub 47 disposed between and secured to discs 48,49. On rotation of the discs and hub, abrasive is ejected throughapertures 50 in the hub by centrifugal force. Vanes 51 disposed betweenthe discs 48, 49 give an added velocity to the abrasive particles by abatting action.

The particular abrasive material used may be any one of a large varietyof materials, such as sand, ground glass, zircon, garnet, steel,Carborundum, or even fruit stones, all in the form of finely dividedparticles. The choice of abrasive material is governed by the degree ofperforation, thinning or roughening which it is desired to effect on thepaper.

The mask or stencil, such as the inserts 28, may be made of othermaterials besides metal-plastic or ceramic, for example.

In FIGURE 6 are shown seven examples of different types of pattern,letters, symbols and trademarks which can be applied to cigarette paperby means of the apparatus described above.

Although the specific forms of apparatus described above are intendedfor treating cigarette paper, the invention can also be employed fortreating other types of paper proluct, e.g., for perforating postagestamps or for applying a pattern or marking to bank notes.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for treating paper to roughen, thin or perforate it,comprising a mask in the form of a rotatable cylindrical surfaceprovided with apertures, means for projecting a stream of particles ofan abrasive material against the inside of the said rotatablecylindrical mask, a rotatable backing roller having a flexible metalsurface which co-acts with the outside of the said rotatable cylindricalmask at the point where the abrasive stream strikes the said mask, andmeans for leading a web of paper between the said mask and the saidbacking roller at the said point of co-action.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said rotatablecylindrical mask is formed by an axially projecting rim on thecircumference of a wheel, the said apertures being provided in insertsin the said rim.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for projecting astream of abrasive particles comprises a nozzle disposed within thecircumference of said axially projecting rim.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for projecting astream of abrasive particles comprises a rotary distributor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the backing roller has a corewhich is of tube form and inflatable.

6. Apparatus for treating paper to roughen, thin or perforate it,comprising a rotatable cylindrical mask provided with apertures, anozzle, an air supply pipe connected to the said nozzle and adapted toproject a stream of abrasive particles in a blast of air through saidnozzle against the inside of the said mask, a rotatable backing rollerhaving a flexible metal rim and a resilient core, which backing rollerco-acts with the outside of the said cylindrical mask at the point wherethe abrasive stream strikes the said mask, means for leading a web ofpaper around said backing roller and between said mask and said backingroller at their point of co-action, and means for rotating the said maskto draw said web through the apparatus and to expose limited areas ofsaid Web to the action of said abrasive stream.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising also a receptacle disposedso as to receive the abrasive particles after they have struck the maskor the paper web, and means for supplying the abrasive particles fromthe receptacle to the nozzle.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for supplying theabrasive particles from the receptacle comprises a further pipe joiningthe receptacle to the air supply pipe in such manner that passage of airthrough the air supply pipe to the nozzle creates a suction effect inthe said further pipe.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for supplying theabrasive particles from the receptacle comprises a series ofcompartments adapted to receive the abrasive particles and adapted to beplaced under pressure, the last of said compartments being connected tothe air supply pipe so that the abrasive particles can be supplied tothe said supply pipe under pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS767,362 Phillips Aug. 9, 1904 2,034,308 Morgan Mar. 17, 1936 2,158,063Broadfield May 16, 1939 2,463,895 Merwin Mar, 8, 1949 2,637,948 Bishopet al. May 12, 1953 2,739,424 Firtze Mar. 27, 1956 2,952,100 PclleySept. 13, 1960,

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING PAPER TO ROUGHEN, THIN OR PERFORATE IT,COMPRISING A MASK IN THE FORM OF A ROTATABLE CYLINDRICAL SURFACEPROVIDED WITH APPARATUS, MEANS FOR PROJECTING A STREAM OF PARTICLES OFAN ABRASIVE MATERIAL AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE SAID ROTATABLECYLINDRICAL MASK, A ROTATABLE BACKING ROLLER HAVING A FLEXIBLE METALSURFACE WHICH CO-ACTS WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE SAID ROTATABLE CYLINDRICALMASK AT THE POINT WHERE THE ABRASIVE STREAM STRIKES THE SAID MASK, ANDMEANS FOR LEADING A WEB OF PAPER BETWEEN THE SAID MASK AND THE SAIDBACKING ROLLER AT THE SAID POINT OF CO-ACTION.